In October King County celebrates the contributions made by people with disabilities, and how disabilities, both visible and non-apparent, enhance our workforce, our communities, and our country.

King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci honored the contributions of individuals with disabilities by proclaiming October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

On Oct. 10, during hybrid King County Council meeting, Councilmember Claudia Balducci read the proclamation and provided additional personal insights.

Thank you to the King County Council for recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month as a time to honor the invaluable contributions of individuals with disabilities in King County.  Nationally, 13% of the U.S. population, or 42.5 million Americans, identify as having a disability and many of us know someone in our personal lives with a disability.

The proclamation is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace, highlighting the talents, skills, and determination of individuals with disabilities to excel in their careers.  Let us continue to promote King County’s equal opportunities, break down barriers to employment, and create a more inclusive and accessible working world in King County.

The proclamation also highlights the commitment King County government has made to advance people with disabilities and affirm the value and talent these individuals add to King County workplaces and communities. As an employer, King County’s commitment to equity and diversity proactively supports employees with disabilities by offering the Disability Services Program within the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Metro Transit. This program has supported hundreds of King County employees with reasonable workplace accommodations, transitional duty work, ergonomic adjustments, and medical leaves.

The official proclamation can be viewed here, and in the image above.

Learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month here on the Department of Labor website. To get involved in recognizing and celebrating NDEAM at King County, contact an Employee Resource Group such as the King County Disabled Equity Network (KCDEN) or the King County Disability Advisory Committee.

Pictured: From left to right, King County Council Chair Dave Upthegrove, Central Employee Services Division (CESD) Deputy Director Peter Hu, CESD Disability Services Manager Erin McPhee, and Councilmembers Reagan Dunn, Sarah Perry, Peter von Reichbauer, and Jeanne Kohl-Welles.